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How Organization Development Brings the Best ME to Every Situation

Marco Cassone, MSOD '14

As a student with several trimesters under my belt in Pepperdine University’s top-ranked MSOD program and graduating this year, I thought it would interesting to interview a student new
to the program. I recently spoke with Luis Morejon about his experience as a member of the Pi Prime cohort, class of 2015. With a passion
for learning and development, Luis serves as the district head of HR USA South at
Panalpina, a provider of intercontinental air and ocean freight forwarding services,
and supply chain management solutions worldwide. With 16 years of HR experience focusing
on compliance and regulatory reporting, Luis explains his motivations for seeking
to develop a higher level of leadership at Pepperdine.

MC: Luis, thank you for agreeing to a blog interview. My hope is that our exchange will
give an intimate look at what it’s like to enter this amazing program. What first
attracted you to check out getting your MSOD from Pepperdine?

LM: Honestly, a little Google goes a long way. I searched for “top organization development graduate programs” and for “best online masters in OD,” and there it was: #1 editor’s pick on several sites. I must admit I was impressed.
The best of business strategy and behavioral science in one degree––what a find! Subsequent
conversations with alumni David Schechtner and Matt Auron confirmed what I was reading.
What about for you, Marco?

MC: I remember a distinct, butterflies-in-my-stomach conversation with Mary Tabata and
Shany Mahalu in the program office. One said, “Prospective students tell us over and
over: ‘Wow, this is the program I’ve been looking for, but never knew existed!’” As
a creative entrepreneur, I’m like the poster child for experiential learning, and
the MSOD’s international practicums really excited me. Tell me your take of the application
process coming in, Luis.

LM: Well, have you ever seen in cartoons when characters are turned upside down and
shaken, held only by their ankles and literally everything is emptied out—wallet,
loose change from their pockets, keys, gum wrappers, etc.? That was what the application
process felt like for me. It gave me an opportunity to look at all the pieces of Luis
to reflect on who I am, what had shaped my life, who and what is important to me,
and why. The application questions helped me evaluate so much. Why Pepperdine? Why
the MSOD program? What impact did I want to make? Why me? Why now?

MC: I’ve learned that inquiry itself is a form of intervention, and to never underestimate
the power of a good question. How did the process change you?

LM: Interestingly enough, the more I answered questions about myself, the clearer my
purpose became: I want to live a fulfilled, inspiring/inspired life, and help those
around me to do the same. I realized that everything I had learned up to that point
had unequivocally prepared me for the next chapter of my life. I made a conscious
decision to give it my best, to risk doing things I had often only thought of and
to experience living an authentic and courageous life. The MSOD program would be the
place where I could finally be.

MC: I really get it. As you know from learning and development, Luis, adults learn by
doing. Our program takes an integrative, inside-out approach to human systems, starting with
the individual and continuing with small- and large-system practicums in Europe and
Central America. The next stop for my cohort will be transorganizational collaboration
in Asia. I’m thrilled! What were some of your impressions from your first intensiveat Pajaro Dunes?

LM: Pajaro was such an eye-opening experience for me. I came away with lots of questions,
quotes, reflections and ideas. Here are a few:

Who could I be if I were at my very best as a leader?

With as many issues as I think I have to work on, why do I also feel responsible for
changing the world?

Our ability to evolve is a function of our relationships with others. The quality
of our relationships regulates fear, anxiety and stress.

If I’m going to help a system, I need to be clear about who I am

If better is possible, then good enough is just not good enough

MC: My post-Pajaro notebook was full of similar insights. I’ve tried explaining what
we learn to friends or family, but it’s not easy. What makes experiential learning
extraordinary is experiencing it. But people do pick up on the difference they see
in us as we start to live what we learn. What are a few of your post-session reflections?

LM: Two or three thoughts come to mind. I need to be willing to struggle through cognitive
dissonance around human behavior; sometimes it’s just unpredictable and messy. Second
and more importantly, I want to develop a deeper understanding of who I am and how
my values, mindsets, motivation, relationships, and actions shape who I am and impact
my leadership and effectiveness.

MC: Yes, the practice point of viewwe develop as students will one day become our biggest resource as consultants.

LM: The third is advice to myself to go easy on the perfectionist in me and live the
moment. I remember Dr. Ann Feyerhem passing along a phrase from MSOD program founder,
Pat Williams: “Grab this time; you will never pass this time again.”

MC: It’s like the perfect lifetime intervention. The first few months are indeed precious:
not only is it the first time we get profoundly changed from the experience,it’s the last time it will ever be the first time. We are learning about life from the inside-out, starting with our own.

LM: It is, most definitely. And thankfully I realize I don’t need to sweat the small
stuff or try to get it right as much as try to bring the best me to every situation.
I’m so excited and passionate about what I’m learning, Marco. I can’t wait for what’s
ahead.

MC: Thank you for your time and for helping to give a little insight to the first few
months of life in the MSOD program. Congratulations, Luis, and enjoy the journey.

About the Author

Marco Cassone has a career background in performing arts education and talent development. He is co-director of marketing at the American Society of Training & Development in Los Angeles, as well as a consultant and researcher at The Executive Agency, a boutique firm serving C-suite and senior executives in transition management, career design strategy, recruiter alliances, and succession planning. Marco also performs and instructs as a talent coach with the Los Angeles-based global performing arts education organization, M-pact Music, LLC.

The Pepperdine Graziadio School of Business and Management offers MBA programs, Master of Science and Bachelor degree programs, and executive education for professionals online and at campuses throughout Southern California.